UT Martin Voted Third In OVC Preseason Rankings
10/15/2026 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – On the eve of Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Media Day, the league unveiled its 2026-27 predicted order of finish as the University of Tennessee at Martin was voted third by the OVC head coaches and communication directors.
The Skyhawks received 86 points in the preseason rankings, which was tied for third place alongside Morehead State (three first-place votes) and SIUE. Tennessee State garnered 13 of the 18 first-place votes as its 125 points topped the standings while Southeast Missouri (two first-place votes, 107 points) ranked second. Lindenwood (61 points), Southern Indiana (44), Eastern Illinois (37) and Western Illinois (17) completed the poll.
Fresh off the heels of a school-record tying 22 victories a year ago, UT Martin returns three players and welcomes in a dozen newcomers in 2026-27. Filip Petkovski (first Skyhawk true freshman to lead the team in assists since 2010-11) is the lone returning starter while Vladimir Khryapa (eight multi-steal games as a freshman) also returns after making three starts last season while Enrique Moya is back after redshirting last season.
UT Martin has 14 total underclassmen on the 2026-27 roster, which are the second-most in the NCAA Division I ranks behind only Navy (who does not have scholarship limits and has a junior varsity program). Ten of those Skyhawk underclassmen are freshmen, which is the highest total in program history and are the second-most in NCAA Division I men's basketball this season behind only Navy.
For the third consecutive season, UT Martin is slated to top all NCAA men's basketball Division I programs in most international student-athletes, edging out Portland (11) and St. John's (10) for that title. The 11 nations represented across the Skyhawk roster are also the most in NCAA Division I men's basketball in 2026-27.
The revealing of the preseason rankings follows yesterday's announcement of the OVC Players to Watch as UT Martin's Davi Remagen and Kaan Onat were honored. The full OVC Basketball Media Day festivities will take place tomorrow at the DoubleTree Hotel and Ford Center in downtown Evansville, Ind.
Skyhawk season ticket packages are on sale now as those can be purchased through the UT Martin Ticket Office at UTMSports.com/tickets.
The Skyhawks received 86 points in the preseason rankings, which was tied for third place alongside Morehead State (three first-place votes) and SIUE. Tennessee State garnered 13 of the 18 first-place votes as its 125 points topped the standings while Southeast Missouri (two first-place votes, 107 points) ranked second. Lindenwood (61 points), Southern Indiana (44), Eastern Illinois (37) and Western Illinois (17) completed the poll.
Fresh off the heels of a school-record tying 22 victories a year ago, UT Martin returns three players and welcomes in a dozen newcomers in 2026-27. Filip Petkovski (first Skyhawk true freshman to lead the team in assists since 2010-11) is the lone returning starter while Vladimir Khryapa (eight multi-steal games as a freshman) also returns after making three starts last season while Enrique Moya is back after redshirting last season.
UT Martin has 14 total underclassmen on the 2026-27 roster, which are the second-most in the NCAA Division I ranks behind only Navy (who does not have scholarship limits and has a junior varsity program). Ten of those Skyhawk underclassmen are freshmen, which is the highest total in program history and are the second-most in NCAA Division I men's basketball this season behind only Navy.
For the third consecutive season, UT Martin is slated to top all NCAA men's basketball Division I programs in most international student-athletes, edging out Portland (11) and St. John's (10) for that title. The 11 nations represented across the Skyhawk roster are also the most in NCAA Division I men's basketball in 2026-27.
The revealing of the preseason rankings follows yesterday's announcement of the OVC Players to Watch as UT Martin's Davi Remagen and Kaan Onat were honored. The full OVC Basketball Media Day festivities will take place tomorrow at the DoubleTree Hotel and Ford Center in downtown Evansville, Ind.
Skyhawk season ticket packages are on sale now as those can be purchased through the UT Martin Ticket Office at UTMSports.com/tickets.
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